To think that Virgin Atlantic have a stupid & outdated policy

[labeesknees]

I've just booked a domestic airline ticket for my mum. I paid with my credit card and the online form stipulates I give a landline number.

I don't have a landline number. The "live chat" link opened and I queried this. I was then told to put down someone else's number - " a friend of family member's number"

WTF

How about the Speaking Clock phone number?

interesting.

when we applied for a mortgage last year our broker said that having a landline number really helps the application. i'm not sure why that is, unless it suggests you're in a more "settled" situation (which less likely to be true these days)

I actually just made up a number. I just get annoyed when a company comes out with a nonsensical policy like this and then suggests something equally as stupid.

I have made up numbers on things like this before but the cynical part of me thinks they will use it to bombard me with useless annoying phone calls :D

Unless they have a good reason for wanting one, like a delivery company but I won't give it out just because they want it!

It does seem odd, a lot of people don't have a landline these days and that number is set to keep increasing.

Petula - ridiculous too. Lots of people don't have landlines. We haven't for years and certainly don't miss it or the cold calls.

Unless it's a credit application or something serious where they may actually NEED to contact me, I always just put 01234 567890.

I let some more trusted companies have my mobile number so they can text me delivery details. But never ever my landline - that way I know it's only really important calls or family (who rarely call) ringing.

I guard my phone numbers carefully because there is nothing worse than having to get up to answer the phone for a spammer/pointless call when you have a sleeping baby on your lap.

About 12 years ago it made 3% difference on the interest rate I was given for a loan I'd applied for. I was moving house, they'd got my birthday wrong by a day so I called up to correct and then gave my new land line too. Was very glad I made that call!

That is all very well, Rafflesway - but not everyone HAS a landline any more - and the number of people who don't have on is growing - so maybe companies like yours are going to have to accept this fact and deal with it - or risk losing more and more business.

Times change, and a good business will move with the times.

There are so many companies that 'require' your home number without any good reason. My DD and I have recently been booking Uni open days and most,if not all, of them require phone numbers as well as other irrelevent information. I use 0777 7777777 as my fake number and we always put 01/01 then the correct year when asked for birthdates for anything other than legitimate reasons.

I don't know anyone who doesn't have a landline. OH works from home and to not have a landline would look odd and make his business look rather dodgy and temporary.

We still use the landline as our default option for making calls as the sound quality is far better than using a mobile. Also I can hear the phone ring wherever I am in the house, so I don't have to keep carrying my mobile around with me all the time.

Put your mobile number? I haven't had a landline for years and no company has queried me putting my mobile number. You're getting het up for the sake of it.

bun where do you live where everyone has a landline?The 1950s?

I suspect everyone down my street has one, because the mobile reception here is so dreadful.

On the upside, though, it means David Cameron is unlikely to choose us as a holiday destination! Every cloud...

"bun where do you live where everyone has a landline?The 1950s?"

Did you mean to be so be rude?

Everyone I know has a landline because it was the default option in their house when they moved in. Nearly all the houses in our village and surrounding areas are owner occupied and most of my friends are in their 40s and 50s with elderly parents who don't own mobile phones. As Raffles has pointed out ringing a mobile from a landline is expensive.

My friends all own mobiles, but still have landlines which they run their broadband on and, believe it or not, use to make telephone calls.

And, as SDT has pointed out, not everyone has great mobile reception.

Rafflesway - my apologies - I have reread my previous post to you, and it was too sharp by far. What I was trying to say was that there is a small but growing trend towards people giving up their landlines altogether, and just using their mobiles - and as that trend grows, businesses may need to change their policies.

I still have a landline as sometimes have to call 0800 numbers which are very expensive to phone from a mobile. Sometimes Airlines want a phone number in case they have to get in touch with you about a flight.

Yes I did mean to be that rude bun

And stop using passive-aggressive hackneyed mumsnet catchphrases.

I never answer my landline. Only have it because of stupid virgin broadband and is a complete waste.

I don't give out my landline because I never answer it - so if it was important, it is vital the company actually calls me on the phone I can be contacted on.

In a world where I call my local bank and end up speaking with someone in India, I find it very difficult to believe that calling mobile lines is somehow expensive for a large corporation

I recently hired a car, they wanted 3 phone numbers from me. 3.

I had just given them my driving license, copy of my car insurance and they swiped my credit card. All in my name.

I was involved in a car accident and the garage repairing my car didn't have a courtesy car so arranged this hire car, not me.

3 phone numbers, who has 3?

Virgin talk a great game but I avoid flying with them after I was able to board a plan to LA instead of NYC. I went through three security points and when someone was sat in my seat I was told to sit in another one.

Totall agree with you OP. Quite why they need a landline is beyond me. If I were an airline wanting information for security purposes I would want your home address(s) and passport number. It is up to the credit card companies to run security checks on large purchases, not the airline. The credit card companies should be doing what amex does and call the cardholder to verify the purchase.

"I find it very difficult to believe that calling mobile lines is somehow expensive for a large corporation"

I get your point, but it is expensive for elderly relatives in my case.

Clearly, the non landline people think we are dinosaurs living in the past, while they are all young, have young parents who all have mobile phones and live in areas with great reception.

I use both my mobile and landline where appropriate and necessary, so we will still continue to keep both.